Edit Outlook 2016 mail attachments without saving local copy

_{Wednesday, February 17, 2016 8:35 PM}

Hello,

I just upgraded a user from Office 2003 and I was wondering if there was a setting in Outlook 2003 that allowed users to edit mail attachments without saving a local copy.  Through my research I had tried various things such as turning off protected view, looking for the "edit message" option but have had no luck editing the attachment.  I understand this feature was removed, but I do see there may have been workarounds for Office 2010 through 2013, but I was wondering if there was a way to edit attachments without saving a local copy with Office/Outlook 2016.

Thanks

_{Thursday, February 18, 2016 10:31 AM ✅Answered}

Hi,

In Outlook 2013 and 2016, edit attachments without saving a local copy is still not available. This "feature" was removed because of "reliability issues and data loss problems" with replacing an attachment received from someone with a version that you edited.

As a workaround, we can disable the attachment preview in Outlook 2013. Then we can double-click the attachment in Outlook, it would be opened by local application. Edit any changes, when you close the attachment, a window would be prompted to ask for save changes. Save it on local machine.

Any other workarounds, please refer to:

http://www.slipstick.com/outlook/edit-and-save-outlook-attachments/

Note: Microsoft is providing this information as a convenience to you. The sites are not controlled by Microsoft. Microsoft cannot make any representations regarding the quality, safety, or suitability of any software or information found there. Please make sure that you completely understand the risk before retrieving any suggestions from the above link.

Regards,

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Winnie Liang
TechNet Community Support

_{Thursday, February 18, 2016 10:21 PM}

Thank you.  I was looking for a workaround for Office 2016.